Defenseman Brady Skjei plans to return to the Minnesota Gophers hockey team for his junior season.

On Thursday, Skjei informed the New York Rangers, who drafted the Lakeville native in the first round of the 2012 NHL draft (No. 28), that he intends to spend another season with the Gophers.

"I can't wait to come back and build off of what we accomplished last year," Skjei said in a release from the Gophers. "It's a new season and a new team, but I'm excited about our potential."

Skjei was a key piece defensively for the Gophers last season during their run to the national championship game. He notched six goals and eight assists en route to nabbing All-Big Ten honorable mention honors.

Skjei has been participating in the Rangers' prospect development camp this summer in New York.